Business Writing for the Digital Era

Writing proper business-related documents in today's workplace requires a solid understanding of the fundamentals behind how specific documents should be approached, designed and edited. Written communications in the workplace should be concise, yet thorough and well laid out.

Technology enabled communications (emails and texts) should also be well thought out and designed to get the correct message across, while avoiding any potential misinterpretation.

This newly designed course teaches how to create business documents in the modern workplace, which takes into account the many forms that modern communication can take, and teaches participants how to best align their message with the appropriate documentation and device.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand Basic Writing Principles
• Know Common Forms of Business Communication
• Review Personality Types When Communicating
• Identify and Understand Your Audience
• Understand the Writing Process
• Review English Language Fundamentals
• How to Write With Clarity
• Write Within Workplace Constraints
• Choose Most Effective Wording
• Use Effective Editing and Proofreading
• Create Useful References and Appendices
• Understand Email Etiquette
• Effective Report Writing
• Create an Action Plan

Course Outline

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 1

From Texting to Boardroom Paper

• Everyone is a Business Writer
• Universal Principles of Good Writing
• Forms and Formats
• Common Forms of Business Writing
• The Principle of ‘Purpose’
• Reflection

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 2

Who am I Writing For?

• The Principle of ‘Audience’
• REACH Review – Communication Preferences
• Understanding the Audience
• Writing for a Global Audience
• Reflection

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 3

The Blank Page

• The Principle of ‘Structure’
• The Writing Process
• Starting
• Writing
• Finishing
• Reflection

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 4

English Still Matters

• Texting – a Legitimate Form of Language
• Write it Once. Make it Count
• English Fundamentals
• The ‘Plain’ Truth
• The Principle of Clarity
• Reflection

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 5

Writing within Constraints

• The Space-Time Continuum
• The Principle of ‘Concision’
• Word Choice
• Reflection

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 6

Click with Confidence

• Wait! The Pressure to Hit ‘send’
• Edit, Edit, Edit
• The Principle of Proofing
• Reflections

Business Writing for the Digital Era - Lesson 7

Reflections

• Create an Action Plan
• References
• Appendix
• Commonly Confused Words
• Punctuation
• Email Etiquette
• Using MS Word Readability Score
• Structuring a Business Report
• Add Your Own Writing Tips